Intraocular injector

Abstract

An intraocular injector includes a syringe body having open-ended cone disposed in one end thereof along with a piston disposed in the body. A transparent implant holder having a lumen therein is aligned with an open-ended cone, a needle include a proximal end and a distal end with a bevel disposed on the distal end of the needle. A plunger affixed to the piston and slidable within a holder lumen and needle lumen is provided for injecting solid intraocular implants into an eye. A cylindrical syringe body shape facilitates control over the needle bevel orientation during injection of the implant into the eye.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An intraocular injector comprising:
 a syringe comprising a substantially cylindrical body, and an open ended cone disposed on a distal end of the body and being narrower than the body; 
 a piston disposed within said body; 
 a substantially transparent implant holder disposed entirely within the open ended cone, the substantially transparent implant holder having a lumen therein, and a solid intraocular implant disposed in the lumen; 
 a needle having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough, wherein the needle is spaced apart from the substantially transparent implant holder; 
 a substantially transparent needle hub supporting the needle proximal end and covering a distal portion of the open ended cone and a distal portion of the substantially transparent implant holder inside the open ended cone, leaving a proximal portion of the open ended cone and a proximal portion of the substantially transparent implant holder uncovered by the substantially transparent needle hub; 
 the solid ocular implant being located in the lumen of the substantially transparent implant holder in the uncovered proximal portion of the substantially transparent implant holder at a position outside of the open ended cone portion covered by the substantially transparent needle hub; 
 a plunger fixed to said piston and slidable within the substantially transparent implant holder lumen and needle lumen for injecting the solid intraocular implant into an eye; and 
 a bevel disposed on the distal end of said needle. 
 
     
     
       2. The injector according to  claim 1 , further comprising a gripping feature disposed on the body. 
     
     
       3. The injector according to  claim 2 , wherein the gripping feature comprises circumferential ribs. 
     
     
       4. The injector according to  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a longitudinal flat thereon. 
     
     
       5. The intraocular injector according to  claim 4 , wherein the injector further comprises circumferential ribs disposed on the longitudinal flat. 
     
     
       6. An intraocular injector comprising:
 a syringe comprising a substantially cylindrical body including a flattened portion and a shoulder, and an open ended cone disposed distally of the shoulder and being narrower than the body; 
 a piston disposed within said body; 
 an implant holder disposed entirely within the open ended cone, the implant holder having a lumen therein; 
 a needle having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough, wherein the needle is spaced apart from the implant holder; 
 a needle hub supporting the needle proximal end and covering a distal portion of the open ended cone and a distal portion of the implant holder inside the open ended cone, leaving a proximal portion of the open ended cone and a proximal portion of the implant holder uncovered by the needle hub; 
 a plunger fixed to said piston and slidable within the implant holder lumen and needle lumen for injecting a solid intraocular implant into an eye; and 
 a bevel disposed on the distal end of said needle and aligned with the flattened portion of the body.